USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 35
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ERNEST J. S. DAVIS.
Ernest J. S. Davis came to this state in 1876 and resided here until his death, which occurred on the 22d of January, 1909. He was a general contractor and builder at Knoxville and erected many of the representative buildings of the city. He was born near the city of Coshocton, in Coshocton county, Ohio, in December, 1853, a son of James R. and Rachel ( Kimball) Davis, of English and Welsh descent respectively. The father was born in Hertfordshire, Eng-
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land, but came to the United States when a young man and settled in Ohio, where he farmed until his death. In his family were eight sons. The Kimballs are of Colonial stock, the American brauch of the family being descended from a second son of a family of that name in England, who emigrated to America in pre-Revolutionary times. The family was represented in the war for independence and there- fore its members are eligible to the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. The noted piano manufacturers are of the same family. Five of the eight sons born to Mr. and Mrs. James R. Davis are still living. Another, the late C. K. Davis, was for many years a resident of Knoxville and engaged in the grain and stock business. Before coming here he had lived in Idaho for some time and was very active in politics there, serving with credit in the state legislature.
Ernest J. S. Davis was educated at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, and subsequently followed telegraphy. For a time he was employed by the old Pan Handle Railroad in Ohio in that capacity but on account of his health abandoned that work and engaged in contracting. In 1876 he came west, locating at Knoxville, Iowa, and remained here for more than three decades, building up a large busi- ness in his line and becoming known as a thoroughly reliable and successful contractor and builder. The houses which he erected stand as proof of his thoroughness and ability and testify to his life of activity and usefulness.
In 1882 Mr. Davis was married in Madison county, lowa, to Miss Sarah T. McCleeary, who was born in that county, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Yost) McCleeary, who removed to Madison county from Ohio in pioneer times. The father went to California in 1849 and in 1852 took up his residence in this state. He was an extensive farmer, owning some five hundred acres of land, and was very successful in his agricultural pursuits. He was married in Coshocton county, Ohio, to Miss Mary Yost, who was born in Musk- ingum county, that state, and they reared eleven children. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born two children : Maude, at home, who is a graduate of the Knoxville high school; and Harry, a civil engineer, now with the Portland Cement Company with headquarters at Phila- delphia. He travels through several states, acting as advisory engi- neer for the company. He received his technical training in the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts at Ames, being graduated from that institution with the class of 1909. For three years he was in the Philippines with the government engineer- ing corps. He married a Miss Roberts, of Marathon, Iowa, also a
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graduate of the college at Ames, and they have two children, Robert Kimball and Katherine, both of whom were born in the Philippines. The family now reside in Knoxville.
Mr. Davis of this review was a republican in his political views and his church membership was in the Methodist Episcopal church. His widow and children are also Methodists. Mrs. Davis and her daughter Maude reside at their home at No. 428 East Montgomery street, and have many friends who regard them highly. Energy, sound judgment and unswerving integrity characterized Mr. Davis throughout his life and not the least of the heritage that he left his children was a name honored and respected by all in his community.
THOMAS J. NEISWANGER.
Thomas J. Neiswanger is the secretary and treasurer of the Harvey Brick & Tile Company, doing business at Harvey, and as such occupies a leading position in business circles. He is a native of this state, his birth having occurred Aug. 18, 1873, upon a farm near Washington. He was one of nine children, six of whom are living, while three have passed away. Their parents were Samuel and Margaret (Thompson) Neiswanger, who were of German and Scotch descent, respectively. The mother has been called to her final rest but the father survives and makes his home with his son Thomas.
The last named started out in life on his own account when com- paratively young. At the age of nineteen years he left home and learned the baker's trade, which he followed for a time but subse- quently began dealing in building materials at Washington, Iowa. In April, 1904, he came to Marion county and organized the company and established the business now conducted under the name of the Harvey Brick & Tile Company. This concern has built up quite a wide and enviable reputation because of the quality of the "Harvey Block" and its products are shipped extensively over Iowa and nearby states. The business has been incorporated and is capitalized for twenty-one thousand dollars. It is today recognized as one of the substantial manufacturing concerns of the county and its patronage is growing year by year.
Mr. Neiswanger was married in Washington county, Iowa, January 17, 1894, to Miss Estella W. England, who was also born in Washington county, Iowa. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
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G. W. England and her father is a retired farmer and an early settler of that county. She was graduated from the Washington high school and taught for a year before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Neis- wanger are the parents of five children: Richard E., Samuel O., Gladys M., Everett A. and Thomas H. Politically Mr. Neiswanger is republican, though progressive. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic chapter and commandery at Knoxville and of the shrine at Des Moines, and Mrs. Neiswanger belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star. He has also been a member of various other social orders. He is interested in public affairs and is one of the progres- sive men of his community. He stands at all times for advancement and improvement and his efforts have been an element in promoting public progress.
DANIEL HUNT.
Daniel Hunt was one of the well known pioneer settlers of Marion county and took a deep and helpful interest in the work of general improvement and development. He was born in New Jersey, near Jersey City, on the 5th of May, 1817, and had therefore passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey when he was called to his final rest December 24, 1900, his death occurring in Pleasantville, this county, where he had resided for four or five years after retir- ing from active business life.
Mr. Hunt was reared and educated in New Jersey and came to Iowa in 1840, making his way to Van Buren county, where he mar- ried Rachel Grooms. To them was born one son, John Hunt, who reached mature years but was killed while serving in the Civil war. The wife and mother passed away in the later '40s and in 1849 Daniel Hunt made the overland trip to California with ox teams, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast. He spent three years there and accumulated a sum of money in mining and in other lines of business. On the expiration of that period he returned to Marion county, where he invested his capital, buying considerable land. He had previously located on a small farm, on which he built a cabin, but sold this property before he went to California. Upon his return he took up his abode in a log cabin but afterward built a comfortable modern residence near Swan and occupied it for about forty years. He prospered in his undertakings and became one of the most cx- tensive landowners of the county, having at one time thirteen hun-
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dred acres. He was the pioneer breeder of thoroughbred Norman horses in this county or vicinity. He brought the first thoroughbreds here and he continued to engage in raising blooded stock until almost the time of his retirement from active business about 1896. He was very successful and became widely known through his activities as a farmer and stock dealer. He was also a man of good business abil- ity, secing clearly the possibilities of a situation and carrying for- ward to successful completion whatever he undertook. Over thirty- five years ago, or about 1878, he owned land adjoining the Des Moines river in Swan township, at a point known as "the washout." Entirely at his own expense he made three attempts and was finally successful in constructing a permanent levee extending some three hundred yards at this point, a part of which was about ten feet high. Although the feasibility of his plan was more or less discredited then, time has proved the immense practical value of this work.
Following his return from California Mr. Hunt was married on the 24th of January, 1854, to Miss Caroline Vanderford, who was born in Athens, Ohio, May 7, 1831, a daughter of Eli and Barbara (Swaim) Vanderford, who were farming people and were residents of Athens county, where they lived until 1851. They then drove overland to lowa, stopping first in Washington county, where they remained for eighteen months. At the end of that time they came to Swan township, Marion county, and the parents spent their re- maining days here, Mrs. Vanderford departing this life in 1852, while Mr. Vanderford's death occurred in 1870, when he was sixty- six years of age. The Vanderfords were an old southern family, the grandfather, William Vanderford, removing from North Carolina to Ohio. The Swaim family came from Kentucky. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Vanderford were five daughters and one son. There was also a half-brother and of this family only one is now living- Zerry Vanderford, who makes his home at Indianola, Iowa. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hunt seven children were born, all of whom are yet living: Emerson, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume; Mrs. Isabel Richards, of Iola, Kan- sas; Leroy, a hardware and lumber merchant of Swan; Mrs. Anna F. Smith, also living in Swan; Mrs. Miranda Stewart, of La Junta, Colorado; W. R., a hardware merchant of Swan; and Mrs. Esta McIntyre, of Warren county, Iowa, who formerly owned the home place near Swan, but has recently sold it and purchased another farm.
For a long period Daniel Hunt figured prominently as a busi- ness man of Marion county. In early manhood he had fifteen hun- Vol. II -23
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dred dollars, which he invested in young cattle at eight dollars per head. On these he made money and he ultimately fed from one to three carloads of cattle per year, continuing the business until he began the breeding of Percheron horses. In all of his business affairs he was progressive, determined and energetic and he would allow no obstacle or difficulty to bar his path if it could be overcome by persistent and honorable effort. In his fraternal connections he was a Mason and was always true and loyal to the teachings of the craft after he became identified therewith. His was indeed a well spent life. At an early age he was left an orphan, had but limited educa- tional opportunities and no particular advantages in other directions. He was both the architect and builder of his own fortunes and he builded wisely and well, winning success and at the same time shap- ing his character in such a manner that respect and confidence were given him in unstinted measure.
JACOB H. CAMP.
Marion county lost one of her pioneer settlers when Jacob H. Camp passed away on the 28th of January, 1884, upon his farm three-quarters of a mile west of Swan. He had long been identified with agricultural interests in that locality, where he owned and cul- tivated two hundred and eighty acres of land, and in addition he was the owner of a farm of one hundred and seventy acres southeast of the village. He had been a resident of Marion county since May, 1856, at which time he took up his abode on the border of Warren county. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1825, a son of Frederick and Rebecca (Carrier) Camp, who removed to Morrow county, Ohio, when their son Jacob was a small child and in 1856 came to Iowa. They were not long permitted to enjoy their new home, however, for both passed away about 1860.
Jacob H. Camp was an only child. He pursued his education in the schools of Ohio and in early manhood took up the profession of teaching, which he followed through several winter seasons after coming to Marion county. He inherited less than two thousand dollars from his father's estate and with that exception never had any financial assistance, making his own way unaided in the world and yet winning for himself a place among the men of affluence in his adopted county. Following his arrival in Marion county he purchased land and began the improvement of his farm and through
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the intervening years to the time of his death remained a successful farmer and stock-raiser. He was always diligent, determined and persistent and by reason of his careful management and unfaltering industry won a very gratifying measure of success, becoming in time the owner of two excellent farms, comprising four hundred and fifty acres, near the village of Swan. As previously stated, the land was divided, his home place consisting of two hundred and eighty acres about three quarters of a mile west of the village of Swan, while the other tract of one hundred and seventy acres lay southeast of the town.
Mr. Camp was first married in the spring of 1851 to Miss Heph- zibah Murray. She was born May 31, 1834, and died November 9, 1866, in the faith of the Dunkard church, of which she was a devout member. There were six children born of that marriage but three died in infancy, while three reached mature years, although but one is now living, Mrs. Emma De Veny of Swan township. A son, John Camp, died June 8, 1889, and a daughter, Ella, passed away in 1876. The Murray family was established in this county in pio- neer times, for Edward and Elizabeth Murray, the parents of Mrs. Hephzibah Camp, arrived here in 1850.
On the 18th of August, 1867, Jacob H. Camp was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Martha E. Murray, nee Smith, widow of Samuel D. Murray, who was a brother of Mr. Camp's first wife. Samuel D. Murray was born February 24, 1836, in Ohio, and passed away on his farm near Swan, May 22, 1862. In 1859 he had wedded Martha E. Smith and to them were born two children, one of whom died in infancy, while the other is Mrs. Luella Goss, a widow with two children, now living on a claim in Montana. To Mr. and Mrs. Camp were born four children. Jacob H., residing at Miles City, Montana, is a forest ranger in the employ of the government. He is married and has four children. Lizzie is the wife of Oscar Whaley, a son of Wilson Whaley, of Clay township, Marion county. They now reside at Mountain View, California, where Mr. Whaley is assistant cashier of a bank. They have one son who is twenty years of age. Anna, the next of the family, died July 18, 1888, at the age of sixteen years. Wilbur, residing in Santa Clara county, California, is the cashier of a bank at Mountain View, although he was in the railway mail service for several years. His education was acquired at Highland Park College in Des Moines and he entered the army as a member of Company B, Fifty-first Iowa Infantry, and went to the Philippines, serving throughout the Spanish-American war. He then returned home and reentered the railway mail service, run-
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ning between Burlington and Omaha and a part of the time to Chi- cago over the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Later he resigned and organized a bank at Mountain View, California, of which he is the cashier and active manager. He is still the owner of a farm near Swan. He has a wife and two children.
Mr. Camp was a democrat in his political views and held some local offices. He read law in his younger days and although he never practiced, his knowledge of the law proved of benefit to him in the conduct of his business affairs. He was reared in the Dunkard faith and afterward became a member of the church. He was highly esteemed throughout the community and enjoyed the warm regard and friendship of many with whom he came in contact. His business integrity was above question and in all of his business dealings he was found thoroughly reliable. There were substantial elements in his character that gained him high regard and his memory is yet cherished by many who knew him while he was still an active factor in the world's work. Since her husband's death Mrs. Camp has built her present comfortable home in Swan, where she has resided for the past sixteen years. For a number of years she was a mem- ber of the United Brethren church but of later years has observed the seventh day Sabbath.
EMERSON HUNT.
Emerson Hunt, a farmer and stockman, owns and cultivates three hundred and twenty-three acres of land on sections 16, 17, 20 and 21, Swan township, his residence being on section 21, not far from the old homestead farm which for many years was occupied by his par- ents. For a considerable period he engaged extensively in the breed- ing of Norman horses but now confines his attention to the breeding of cattle and hogs and to the raising of grain. He owns the land upon which his birth occurred on the 28th of October, 1854, his par- ents being Daniel and Caroline ( Vanderford) Hunt. The latter is now living in Swan at the age of eighty-three years but the former has passed away. Extended mention is made of them on another page of this work.
Emerson Hunt remained at home until twenty-two years of age, or until 1876, when he was united in marriage with Miss Georgia Beitzell, who was born in Marion county, near Wheeling, July 27, 1857, a daughter of George C. and Keziah (Mills) Beitzell, who
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were early residents of this county. Both were natives of Indiana, the latter born near Greencastle. They were reared in the Hoosier state and as young people came to Iowa, their marriage being cele- brated at Hartford, Warren county, on the 3d of July, 1855. Soon afterward they removed to Wheeling, Iowa, where Mr. Beitzell conducted a blacksmith shop, following that business throughout the remainder of his life. He died in October, 1900, when about seventy- five years of age. He served as a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting at Red Rock, and for three years was with the cavalry forces, during which time he participated in many hotly contested engagements and thus aided in winning the victory which finally crowned the Union arms. He was a member of the Grand Army post at Milo, Warren county, and he and his wife were faithful and consistent members of the Christian church. His widow survived him for about three years and died in 1903 at Waterloo, at the age of seventy-one years, her last days being spent in the home of her daughter. In their family were eight children, all born in Marion county, and seven are yet living: Mrs. Hunt; Edward, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska; John and Orville, who are living in Warren county; Kate, the wife of J. W. Myers, of Idaho; Laura A., who married Leroy Hunt; Charles, living in Swan ; and Mrs. Ida May McDaniel, who died in 1894. She, too, had been a resident of Swan.
Mrs. Hunt was reared in this county and attended the public schools. By her marriage she has become the mother of five chil- dren. Chester C., the eldest, wedded a Miss Brewer, of Des Moines, by whom he has six children. He now follows farming in Swan township. Elsie is the wife of F. L. Beck, of Des Moines, who is interested in coal mines. Mabel is the wife of W. E. Wellons, of Dallas, who is principal of the schools, and they have three children. May married C. G. Farr, a traveling salesman residing in Des Moines, and they have two children. Roy E., who is associated with his father in carrying on the home farm, married Miss Hazel New- man and they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have thirteen grandchildren and all were at home on Thanksgiving day of 1914- an interesting family reunion.
Emerson Hunt was reared to farm life and has always carried on agricultural pursuits. He built his present fine residence about thirty years ago and he also has two other residences upon the farm. He has worked on persistently and energetically in the development and improvement of his place and has won success by close applica- tion, persistency of purpose and careful management. For years he was one of the successful breeders of Norman horses but at the pres-
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ent time is concentrating his efforts upon the raising of cattle and hogs and the production of grain. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served in several township offices. He is never neglectful of the duties of citizenship yet his foremost interest is his farm, which enables him to provide well for his family. He is today one of the men of affluence in Swan township, where he has always lived, being numbered among the worthy pioneer citi- zens.
ARNOLDUS KUYPER.
No one has figured more prominently or honorably in connec- tion with the business interests and upbuilding of Pella than Arnoldus Kuyper and no history of this section of the state would be complete without extended reference to him and the important work which he did along the lines of general improvement and advancement. He was born August 7, 1863, in Pella, a son of Peter and Jannegje (Doedyns) Kuyper, who emigrated from Holland to the new world. He attended school only to the age of twelve years and was then com- pelled to put aside his studies and assist in the support of the family by teaming. He hauled coal, ice and other commodities and after- ward for many years worked for H. Rhynsburger. He gathered cream and eggs all over Marion county and thus he formed a wide acquaintance which proved of value to him in later years, for the public had come to know him as a reliable, energetic, industrious business man, not afraid of work and employing progressive ideas in all that he did.
At length, through careful economy and industry, Mr. Kuyper accumulated a capital sufficient to enable him to engage in business on his own account and he opened a lumber yard in 1893. From the outset the undertaking prospered. He ever recognized that satis- fied patrons are the best advertisement and he always adhered to the old axiom that honesty is the best policy. In addition to conducting a lumber business he became a stockholder and vice president of the Citizens National Bank and of the Garden City Feeder Company, a director in the Pella Creamery Company, a stockholder in the Huttig Manufacturing Company at Muscatine, Iowa, a director in the Pella Overall Company, and a director in the Pella Plumbing & Heating Company. In fact, there were few enterprises of impor- tance at Pella with which he was not identified to a greater or less
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degree. He had various smaller interests than those already men- tioned and he also owned considerable valuable farming land and timber tracts in Canada. His investments were ever judiciously made and his unfaltering perseverance was a most salient factor in the attainment of success. He brooked no obstacle that could be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort and he builded his prosperity upon the sure foundation of industry.
On the 27th of November, 1890, at Pella, Mr. Kuyper was united in marriage to Miss Mary Louise Neyenesch, a daughter of Herman and Anne Maria Neyenesch, who came from Holland. Her father was for several years a schoolmaster and later became proprietor and editor of Pella's Weekblad, a Holland paper, and The Blade, pub- lished in English. To Mr. and Mrs. Kuyper were born three sons, Peter H., Julian A. and Louis A.
In his political views Mr. Kuyper was a democrat and supported the party at national elections, but on local questions voted independ- ently. He was serving as alderman at large of Pella at the time of his death and he was a trustee of Central University. He passed away December 6, 1910, when in the prime of life, after a seven weeks' siege of typhoid. Starting out in life with a very limited edu- cation and penniless, he became one of the prosperous residents of his town, widely recognized as one of the leading and most highly respected men of his community. At the time of his death he had amassed a considerable fortune and his life and conduct suffered no reproach. His path was never strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes, for he always used constructive measures in the conduct of his business and as the years went on gained the sure reward of earnest, honest effort, his native talent and ability gaining for him the prominence which he enjoyed.
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